Trump’s top choice for chief of staff not taking job
WASHINGTON: Nick Ayers, who had emerged as President Donald Trump’s top pick for the position of chief of staff, has withdrawn from the race and announced he would leave the administration shortly.
New names that have since entered the speculation include Mark Meadows, a Republican member of the House of Representatives who heads the party’s ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus; Steve Mnuchin, treasury secretary; Mick Mulvaney, director of the office of management and budget; acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker; and US trade representative Robert Lighthizer. Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey; and David Bossie, Trump’s deputy campaign manager in 2016 are also being mentioned.
Trump had settled on Ayers to replace John Kelly, who is leaving at the end of the year.
Ayers, currently the chief of staff to Vice-president Mike Pence, was backed by Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law and Jared Kushner, who were unhappy with Kelly. As an announcement was reportedly being drafted on his appointment, Ayers tweeted on Sunday: “Thank you @realdonaldtrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but.”
He added will be working on the president’s agenda from outside.
Ayers, who is 36 and has three young children, wanted to accept the job only temporarily, till next spring, while Trump looked for one who would serve out the remaining two years of his term.
Trump did not like the fact that Ayers was not willing to take the job full time.
“I am in the process of interviewing some really great people for the position of White House Chief of Staff,” Trump tweeted, accusing media of jumping the gun on Ayers.
“Fake News has been saying with certainty it was Nick Ayers, a spectacular person who will always be with our #MAGA (Make America Great Again) agenda. I will be making a decision soon!”